Interlocking sheet piling



N. C. RENDLEMAN INV'I'ERLOCKING SHEET FILING Filed Nov. 8, 1927 INVENTOR sun K Patented May 12, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORMAN C. RENDLEMAN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JONES & LAUGHLIN STEEL CORPORATION, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A. COBPORA- 'lION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

INTEBLOCKING SHEET FILING Application filed. Novembers, 1927. Serial No. 231,843.

This invention relates to interlocking sheet piling and provides a piling section which may be readily rolled, easily driven, and which forms a tight joint between adjacent sections.

Various forms of sheet piling having similar interlocks on each edge thereof have heretofore been proposed. Certain of these piling sections embody a straight web between the interlocks, but for the purpose of securing additional strength the web has been shaped in various ways so as to provide a relatively deep section. For example, the patent to C. S. Boardman 1,498,778, June 24th, 1924:, shows a generally channel shaped piling section. In the use of this piling, successive sections are faced in opposite directions.

In most places where sheet piling is ems ployed it is customary to provide bracing timbers or ranges for sustaining the assembled structure. In using channel shaped piling such as shown in the Boardman patent, a section of piling is driven with the web of the channel in contact with the range. This results in the interlocks being spaced a short distance from the range. When the next section is driven one of its interlocks must necessarily engage an interlock on the first section and this means that the entire second section must be spaced from the range. Difficulty is likely to be encountered on the driving of the third section because the web of this third section again engages the range, and unless the second section has been so driven that its free edge-that is to say, the

interlock which was unengaged during the driving of said second section, is properly spaced from the range, it may be difficult to properly interlock the second and third sections.

I provide a sheet piling section so formed that each section bears against the range. Preferably this hearing is provided at at least two spaced points over the width of each piling section so that the position of the free edge of a section being driven is definitely determined. This makes the pile very easy to drive. Preferably each piling section is made generally 8 shaped. In its preferred form each piling section comprises an interend of an angularly disposed flange. This last flange is formedintegral with a web lying substantially parallel to the range and spaced from theneutral axis of the section. The last mentioned web'portion preferably extends to a point adjacent the center of the section and terminates in an angularly disposed web passing through the center of gravity of the section. This last mentioned web terminates in. a second web extending parallel with the range and this web in, turn terminates in an angularly disposed flange which carries the second interlock. The interlocks are preferably of such size that they do notbear against the range when the piling sections are in place. This is desirable as it ensures tighter joints at the interlocks.

The pilingsection is preferably so formed as to be radially symmetrical about the center of gravity. There is, therefore, no need for turning the piling section in a particular Each piling section comprises interlocks indicated generally by the reference characterQ and a metal body which, generally speaking, may be considered as a web extendmg web comprises flanges 5 having locking flanges 6 formed on the ends thereof. The locking flanges are formed with hearing faces 7 which are arranged at an angle of substantially to the center line CL of the section. It is desirable that'the inclination of the flanges 7 to the center line CL be not less than 45.

Each flange 5 also carriesa guard flange 8 adapted to cooperate with the locking flange 6 on an adjacent piling section. With this arrangement the locking flanges 6 of adjacent piling sections are held in locking engagefrom the point 3 to the point 4. This.

ment, but at the same time a limited degree of relative rotation between adjacent sections is possible. This permits of driving the piling so as toform a curved wall if desired. The flanges 5 terminate in web portions 9 extending substantially parallel to the center line CL. These flanges are connected by a cross web 10 which passes through the center of gravity CG of the section. The section thus produced is radially symmetrical about the center of gravitythat is to say, any straight line drawn through the center of gravity intersects the section at equal distance from the center of gravity on either side thereof.

The web may be said to be so bent as to form oppositely faced channels lying side by side, these channels having oppositely faced interlocks formed on their remote flanges.

The section thus formed may be readily rolled without the warping or twisting on the cooling bed which is usual with most deep piling sections. The straightening operation required in the manufacture of ordinary piling sections is thus eliminated. The piling sections may be stacked in a minimum of space. thus facilitating storage and shipment.

This section is a very easy one to drive as it is symmetrical about the center of gravity and has a sufficient amount of metal at such a distance therefrom that the section is stiff and not subject to undue vibration on driving.

Figure 2 shows the piling as applied to the construction of a retaining wall. The range which provides backing for the piling sections is indicated at R. In making up the retaining wall a piling section S is first driven. This section is properly positioned by reason of thebearing between the web 9 and the range. the range properly positions the interlocks on the piling section S and permits of driving the section- S with av minimum of difiiculty. Succeeding sections are driven until the re taining wall is completed.

As shown in Figure 2, the interlocks are spaced from the range. his permits of the cooperating interlocks moving slightly relativeto one another so as to ensure proper bearing between the component parts of theinterlocks and thus form a relatively tight joint. Three lines of contact are secured by the particular form of interlock employed, one line of contactbeing between the working faces 7 of cooperating locking'flanges and the other two lines of contact being secured between the guard flanges and the backs of the locking flanges.

While I have illustrated and described the present preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims:

I claim This contact between the web 9 and 1. A sheet piling section comprising a web having interlocks on the edges thereof adapted to engage like interlocks of an adjacent section, the web having generally flat portions lying at opposite sides of the section, and an intermediate angular portion, the section being radially symmetrical about the center of gravity of the section.

2. A sheet piling section comprising a Web my hand. I c

NORMAN C. RENDLEMAN. 

